Shana: Hey Jaunty, don’t you want to interview me about my new book, True Spies? It’s a Lord and Lady Spy novel, and it comes out today. I’ve been waiting for you to harass—I mean, ask me.

Jaunty: So now you want me to interview you! Last time you had a book out, you tried to keep it a secret from me.

Shana: (Shoot, that was supposed to be a secret. We should never have given Jaunty a Twitter account.) That was my novella, The Spy Wore Blue,and with your busy schedule, I thought I should just let sleeping porcupines lie.

Jaunty: I do have a busy schedule.

Shana: Do you think you have time to interview me? I’m really sorry about last time.

Jaunty: How sorry?

Shana: Very sorry. (Not sorry at all, but I didn’t think I could get away with it twice.)

Jaunty: Sorry enough to talk to Kate Middleton about renaming the royal baby, Jaunty?

Shana: Not quite that sorry, but pretty sorry.

Jaunty: Sorry enough to make me the hero of True Spies?

Shana: Umm…I don’t know about that, but I do mention you by name in True Spies.

Jaunty: Really? Go on…

Shana: Here’s an excerpt from page 39.

If Elinor only knew how little time he spent worrying about his title and his lands. Until recently. Recently, he’d been thinking a hell of a lot. Too much. He’d never considered what would happen if—when—he retired from the Barbican group. He hadn’t really believed he ever would retire until…

What would he do? His children were growing up before his eyes. Soon they’d be having children of their own. And his wife—well, Winn was relatively certain, at this point in their lives, she hardly cared whether he lived or died. If he was not careful, he would end up alone, like Crow. He’d die a solitary old man, with no one to mourn him.

His mother would have said he was too much like his father—absent and inattentive. He shuddered at the possibility that Elinor might follow in his mother’s footsteps and marry her groom were Winn to suffer an untimely death.

A slight movement caught his attention, and he blinked, uncertain for a moment as to whether he was imagining things. Ghosts? But no, there was a man sitting on his garden bench, reading the forgotten novel. As Winn stared, the man looked up and gave him ajaunty wave.

Jaunty: A jaunty wave? Well, I do have a rather unique and distinguished wave. It’s all in the flip of the wrist. You know what, Shana, I will do that interview for you. I’ve always said you’re one of my top ten favorite Quills.

Shana: Wow. Thanks, Jaunty. What would you like to ask me about True Spies?

Jaunty: Did you know that I’m a spy? You could have consulted me for True Spies.

Shana: No, I didn’t know that, I’ll keep that in mind, for my next book. So, Jaunty about this book…

Jaunty: The name is Quills. Jaunty P. Quills. You can call me Agent Quills.

Shana: How very original. Now, back to questions about True Spies. It’s releasing today

Jaunty: I’m sorry, Shana, Q is calling me. Duty you know. A spy’s work is never done. Pip, pip and all that. Maybe there’s a question you’d like to ask my friends.

Shana: I suppose that’s all I am going to get out of Jaunty—I mean, Agent Quills. My question for you is, do you have a favorite spy in movies or in books? I’m giving one person who comments a copy of True Spies.

Book 2 in the Lord and Lady Spy Series

He’s weary of deception…

Baron Winslow Keating is honor-bound to finish one last mission as an elite spy for the Barbican group even though he just wants to go home and be with his family. But after years of secrecy and absence, his daughters hardly know him and his wife has given up on him…

She wants to try a little intrigue…

Elinor has had enough of domestic boredom. She contemplates an affair with a rakish spy, only to discover a world of intrigue and treachery that she never knew existed. Even more shocking, her neglectful husband is suddenly very attentive—quite the jealous type—and apparently there is much more to him than she ever knew…

I knew Jaunty was a spy, and of COURSE he is my favorite. Other spies…hm. Actually, I know a spy in real life. How cool is that? But I probably shouldn’t give his/her name. Just ordered the book, Shana! Can’t wait!

Congrats on the new release. My favorite spies are the Scarlet Pimpernel and James Bond. In tv, it was Scarecrow and Mrs. King. Finally, even though he’s not a spy, I have to include Sherlock Holmes for his skill set.